Less than four months after joking to PEOPLE about how he was ready to have kids with new wife Taylor sooner rather than later, PEOPLE exclusively confirms that the country singer-songwriter and his longtime love are expecting their first child in early fall.

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“We have always shared the same heart for wanting a family,” Young, 38, tells PEOPLE of the couple’s happy news. “I love knowing that we get to give this little one an amazing life, and I just can’t wait for the future ahead of us as a family. We are so blessed!”

The newlyweds discovered they were expecting in early February, after Taylor decided to take a pregnancy test “on a whim” after the two had flown to Las Vegas to spend Super Bowl weekend with friends and family.

“I was in shock when it read positive. I really just didn’t believe what I was seeing,” she recalls. “After it sunk in, I was so happy and so overwhelmed that I just started crying — happy tears of course! Brett and I hugged, kissed and talked for hours about how long we had been wanting this and how excited we are to become parents.”

And 31-year-old Taylor already knows her husband — who heads out on tour with Kelsea Ballerini next week — will make an excellent father, whether he’s at home or on the road.

“Brett is so good with kids — he’ll be an incredible dad,” she tells PEOPLE. “I think being a father will come so naturally to him. He’s kind, patient, and a good listener, but he’s also a goofball and isn’t afraid to have fun. Family is so important to both of us, so I don’t have a single doubt in my mind that he will be a very present and involved father and that our child and family will always come first.”

“This child will have such an incredible mother — there is absolutely no doubt that she will be the best mom on the planet. I, personally, can’t wait to see Taylor hold our little one for the first time,” the “Here Tonight” hitmaker says, adding with a laugh, “I’m screwed!”

With their baby’s arrival still months away, the couple are each struck by the deep affection they already feel for their first child.

“Being a mom is going to be the biggest accomplishment and best thing I’ve ever done. I love this little one so much already,” Taylor tells PEOPLE. Young adds, “It’s the most exciting thing about becoming a dad — knowing how much I already love this baby.”

Young also shared the baby news with his fans on Instagram, writing: “And then we were 3 👦🏼👩🏻👶🏼 Taylor and I are absolutely over the moon to be expecting a new little angel into our family. Absolutely blessed to be starting this new chapter with my baby and our baby.”

The newlyweds chose not to have a first look (“I wanted the first time I saw her to be when she walked down the aisle,” said Young) and exchanged personalized vows during an emotional ceremony that was officiated by Young’s father Brad, a pastor, and Van Hazelitt, Young’s manager and groomsman.

“Being able to be best friends with a person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with is the most important thing,” the "Mercy" crooner told PEOPLE at the time about his bride. “She has a very pure, kind heart.”

Brett Young and wife Taylor

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In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE in December, the newlyweds admitted they were both looking forward to expanding their family and enthusiastic about the changes being parents might bring.

“Starting that next chapter in our lives — kids, starting our own family — and being able to experience that together is what really makes me the most excited,” Taylor raved of married life.

“We do want kids soon, and that changes things,” added Young. “I’m excited to start life in general. I’m excited to say ‘husband and wife.’ Like, ‘My wife.’ We’ve been together for a long time, but there’s just certain things that change.”

“We did just buy a place, and we haven’t really settled in enough to call that home yet,” continued the singer. “We’ve both lived really good lives — this is the beginning of our life together. So that’s exciting.”

“We’re excited about that stage,” he said. “I think we’re both ready and so I don’t think we’re going to do the thing where we’re going and testing everybody’s levels and trying to do everything we can to rush into it. I think we’re going to let it happen when it happens.”

“The grandparents are definitely begging at this point,” Young joked. “They’re ready. They’re ready for grandbabies.”

To catch country’s biggest stars hitting the red carpet, tune in to Red Carpet Live: 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. EST and streaming live on PEOPLE.com, Facebook, Twitter, PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.